At the Alamo Bowl, Arizona football will play Oklahoma’s 5-star rookie quarterback Jackson Arnold.

(AP) — NORMAN, Oklahoma The Jackson Arnold era is about to start at Oklahoma after all the excitement.

It arrived a little sooner than anticipated. The starting quarterback for the Associated Press All-Big 12 squad, Dillon Gabriel, transferred from Oklahoma to Oregon. Arnold, a five-star true freshman, is now the new starter going into Thursday’s Alamo Bowl game between No. 12 Oklahoma and No. 14 Arizona.

Arnold won the MVP award in the Elite 11 quarterback competition in 2022 and was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year. After enrolling at Oklahoma in January, he played spring ball, which helped him secure Gabriel’s backup position.

Fans of the Sooners have been clamoring to see more of him, and now they will get a full dosage of possibly the next great player at a program that has recently included Caleb Williams, Jalen Hurts, Spencer Rattler, Kyler Murray, and Heisman winners Baker Mayfield in addition to Gabriel.

Despite the fact that Gabriel is among the most effective quarterbacks in FBS history, the Sooners have continued their regular season without him, with Arnold taking his place.

Having the coaches’ confidence is really important to me, and I take great pride in knowing that they are counting on me to give it my all and that we are sticking to the same game plan, according to Arnold. “That trust they have in me is really special to me; if Dillon had been here, we would have run the same stuff.”

Arnold has made 75% of his passes in the little action he has played, dashing and scrambling with remarkable accuracy.

Jackson has been here, and I’ve watched him,” Oklahoma receiver Jalil Farooq remarked. “I’ve seen him mature. He’s coming forward in the room, and I can’t wait to watch him play in the bowl game. I’m eager for him to display his skills.

After Gabriel was eliminated from the game in the first half, Arnold assisted the Sooners in defeating BYU. Arnold led a drive that used the last 5:08 of the game clock with Oklahoma leading 31-24 and attempting to maintain their lead. The game was practically sealed when he found Farooq for an eight-yard completion on a third-and-eight.

“As I watch him and his growth, I would say that his consistency is the most notable thing,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables remarked following Arnold’s performance versus BYU. He’s always at the right place at all times. He simply is the same guy every single day. enjoys competition, seizes opportunities, cherishes them, and has a respect for the game and the necessary development. He thus has a strong work ethic. And he knows as well as anyone that you deserve what you get.

There will be a new offensive coordinator working with Arnold. After Jeff Lebby left to become the head coach of Mississippi State, Oklahoma moved Seth Littrell from offensive analyst to head coach.

Since coach Littrell arrived, Arnold remarked, “We’ve been in constant communication. We’ve been close.” Even though he isn’t my OC, he has still assisted me in becoming a better player. Getting to know him has been an absolute pleasure, and I’m thrilled that he is now the OC.

Additionally, Joe Jon Finley, the tight ends coach for the Sooners, was promoted to co-offensive coordinator. Finley will oversee and organize more offensive games in addition to continuing to coach tight ends.

Venables thinks it will help to bring in new offensive coordinators and a quarterback before the team plays in a bowl game and next season when it joins the Southeastern Conference.